Flu shots are also given during the week by appointment and during your regularly scheduled appointments

The flu season has hit with a vengeance

The flu shot you may have received has about a 30% benefit for the most prevalent strain (H3N2) but may have considerably more benefit for the H1N1 and B strains that are currently circulating.

This flu strain is severe with more people having influenza this year reported to DHEC than in the most recent severe influenza seasons in the last 20 years.

If you have not had a flu shot get one. This season is likely to last a while and still has not peaked. There are more deaths in all age groups from influenza than has been seen in many years.

Tamiflu (Olsetamivir) doe make influenza less severe especially if it is taken in the first several days of illness. Tamiflu is effective especially in those with diseases that weaken the immune system including diabetes, heart disease, liver disease, HIV, as well in pregnant women, and those that are substantially overweight.

Call us if you think you have the flu—you can get the flu more than once in a year and may get this illness 2 or 3 times (different strains) in the same flu season even if you are treated for one strain.